28-29 September 2023, Dublin, Ireland - Held every two years under the auspices of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the 2023 European Conference of Presidents of Parliament (ECPP) was organized in Dublin, hosted by the Houses of the Oireachtas, the Irish Parliament, in Dublin.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) was represented by H.E. Mr. Enaam Mayara, President of PAM, and President of the House of Councillors of the Kingdom of Morocco.

The event gathered more than 60 Speakers and Deputy Speakers, and some 400 delegates, from the 46 Member States of the Council of Europe and partner countries, as well as Presidents of international parliaments.

Discussions focused on three main topics:

• The consequences of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the role of national parliaments in Ukraine’s reconstruction.
• The challenges to representative democracy in volatile times.
• Equality and diversity in public representation - the participation of young people, women, and ethnic and social groups as members of parliament.

In his statement, President Mayara highlighted the multitude of threats that are currently challenging representative democracy in the PAM regions, and beyond.  

The widespread insecurity at the international level, the deteriorating socio-political conditions in the Sahel, the looming economic crisis resulting from the invasion of Ukraine, mass migration flows, and the malicious use of new and emerging technologies by foreign powers, terrorist, and criminal groups - such as for propaganda and disinformation purposes.

President Mayara recalled that the commitment to the fundamental principles of representative democracy must remain unwavering.

Participants in the meeting concurred that MPs are experiencing a cross-current of pressures, and that politicians should respond by upholding the space in which representative democracy does its job, that is within Parliaments.

In the conclusions submitted to the Conference, delegates agreed on securing the support necessary for Ukraine to achieve a just and lasting peace, and reconstruct the country in respect of its full sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom; reaffirmed parliaments’ commitment to the enduring and unbreakable principles of democracy and the values of accountability, transparency and representation underlying them; called on full parity between men and women in parliaments, the greater engagement of young people in politics, and the construction of inclusive education planning, to facilitate the involvement of people with disabilities and other minorities.

On the sidelines of the event, PAM held a number of meetings with the Speakers and senior parliamentary representatives of, among others, Cyprus, Israel, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Palestine, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, and Switzerland, as well as the Baltic Sea States Council, NATO PA, OSCE PA and PABSEC. 

In addition, the Conference and the bilateral meetings proved an excellent opportunity to present the PAM's newly established strategic think tank, the Centre for Global Studies, in San Marino.//

The conclusion of the 2023 European Conference of Presidents of Parliament are available at the following links:

In English - https://rm.coe.int/conclusions-dublin-2023/1680acba62 

In French - https://rm.coe.int/conclusions-dublin-2023/1680acbc9a   //